House Republicans have introduced a resolution that rescinds the subpoenas issued by the January 6 Committee.
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Eric Burlison (R-MO) are leading the effort in refusing the actions taken by the committee, which the Republicans claim are illegitimate.
At the center of the action are several former White House officials, Stephen Bannon, Peter Navarro, Dan Scavino, and Mark Meadows. Each of them did not comply with their subpoenas.
Earlier this month, Massie considered the idea on social media, writing, “[House Speaker Mike Johnson] why don’t we rescind the Congressional subpoena for Steve Bannon and officially repudiate the J6 committee by a vote of Congress?”
“Rescinding the subpoenas issued by the January 6th Select Committee on September 23, 2021, October 6, 2021, and February 9, 2022, and withdrawing the recommendations finding Stephen K. Bannon, Mark Randall Meadows, Daniel Scavino, Jr., and Peter K. Navarro in contempt of Congress,” the resolution reads.
It adds that the “Select Committee was deficient in its composition,” as then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “refused to seat Republican members named by Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.” Pelosi’s refusal was a violation of House Resolution 503, which establishes committees. The resolution says five members “shall be appointed after consultation with the minority leader.”
There were also only nine members on the January 6 Committee, not the required thirteen, as determined by the resolution.
Rep. Burlison said in a statement that the Jan. 6 Committee was “nothing more than a political witch hunt to blame President Trump and his advisors for the events that took place on January 6, 2021, and influence the 2022 mid-term elections and 2024 presidential election.”
He added that the committee was “legally deficient in its composition and was more focused on producing made-for-TV hearings than following House rules.”
As a result of the deficient nature of the committee, the subpoenas that were issued were “legally insufficient and should be rescinded,” Burlison explained, “and the contempt of Congress referrals based on those subpoenas should be withdrawn.”
“This is the right thing to do, and I hope all members of the House will join me in this effort,” he concluded.
Burlison’s resolution has 24 co-sponsors: Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Thomas Massie (R-KY-04), Chip Roy (R-TX), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Scott Perry (R-PA), Jim Banks, (R-IN), Michael Cloud (R-TX), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Warren Davidson (R-OH), and Lance Gooden (R-TX).
Former Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) condemned the resolution.
He told Fox News Digital that the “resolution will have no impact.”
“The subpoenas issued by the Select Committee were litigated exhaustively, with contempt of Congress charges going as high as the Supreme Court. Sadly, it’s just the latest attempt by House Republicans to subvert the rule of law and do Donald Trump’s bidding. Nothing will exonerate Trump from his actions on January 6 and nothing will change the fact that Bannon and Navarro are convicted criminals.”
